Peco Foods considers integrated poultry project in Arkansas

Peco Foods, the eighth largest poultry processor in the US, is considering the construction of a new integrated poultry processing project in the state of Arkansas.

If built the new poultry processing plant would cost the company USD$120 million, with an accompanying hatchery and truck shop potentially costing an additional USD$20 million. The plant if given the go ahead will finish construction and be ready for production by January 2016. The processing plant and hatchery could be located in Pocahontas (Randolph County).

To support its integrated poultry operations, a feed mill would also be built as part of the project. The feed mill will be built approximately 30 miles North-East of the other poultry facilities, in Corning (Clay County).

The feed mill will be built on a budget of USD$36 million, and will open in advance of the processing plant (as will the hatchery).

If the project goes ahead this would be Peco Foods second operations in the state of Arkansas, after entering in 2011 with a poultry processing plant in Batesville and a feed mill in Newark.

The Newark feed mill last year received a USD$13.8 million investment to expand production at the facility which was purchased in 2011.